Dripping blood leads to body

POLICE responding to a call of  blood dripping on a couple lying on their bed from their ceiling at their Nelson Street Planning apartment, Port-of-Spain yesterday led to the gruesome discovery of the decomposed body of  80-year-old Grace Briton also called “Gracie.’’ According to reports, around 3.30 pm Betty Anderson was lying in bed with her fiance in her N-North apartment bedroom when the man became startled by blood dripping on his forehead. A shocked Anderson decided to inquire about the origin of the blood from her neighbour Gracie upstairs. on opening the door, which was slightly ajar, she was confronted by a strong stench. She saw feet protruding from under a bed. She contacted the police who discovered the decomposed body of Gracie, an out-patient of the St Ann’s Hospital.

Spinster, Gracie who lived alone at apartment K-North has a daughter Michelle Briton who is a patient at St Ann’s Hospital. Several bruises to Gracie’s face were discovered, while her room appeared to be ransacked. It prompted police to believe she was murdered. However, following preliminary tests at the Port-of-Spain mortuary “foul play” was ruled out.  Police sources confirmed that an autopsy would be performed today as a mere formality to determine the cause of death, but they do not suspect she was murdered. Gracie was last seen alive two weeks ago. In an unrelated matter police officers have also ruled out “foul play” in the decomposed  body of a man discovered in a small shed behind Silver Stars panyard, Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain yesterday.

“Death was due to natural causes,” police sources told Newsday. “The man who is only known by the name Sooklal was  sickly. He had been living there about four years.” Investigations revealed that Sooklal whose body was discovered around 12.45 pm was last seen alive on Friday. it was while band members were preparing for yesterday’s Panorama semi-finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah that they followed a foul odour and found the body